Careers in Swimming & Aquatics
This section provides a guide for anyone interested in a career in aquatics, from new starters to experienced coaches. For Merton Pisces club members, please talk to Head Coach Harry about your career goals.
Discover fulfilling aquatic careers and jobs, offering part-time flexibility or long-term professional growth in water sports and pool management
A career in swimming can include becoming a lifeguard, swimming teacher, coach, or even an official like a judge or referee.
Many of our former members have found jobs in pools all over the Merton area, and several are now successful swimming teachers. You can read their stories on our [Testimonials page].
Your Career Path in Swimming
Building a career in aquatics requires determination and discipline. The path often starts with a safeguarding course, which is followed by more specialised teaching or coaching qualifications.
The blue table on this page lists the key courses you’ll need to expand your knowledge. While some may seem unnecessary, they are essential as you progress through the teaching and coaching qualifications.
A certificate may get you started, true coaching is unquestionably much more than just knowing the strokes. It involves understanding the physical and mental development of a swimmer, creating engaging sessions, and keeping them motivated. This is something that comes with experience.
But to begin with, many young people start as lifeguards due to it being a flexible employment and providing an income and a great way to gain knowledge before moving to the next level.
Helpful Links & Resources for Aquatics Careers
Below are some useful links to get you started on your career journey in the aquatic world.
Safeguarding Courses
| Safeguarding Courses Required by everyone in swimming | Descriptions |
| Institute of Swimming | All Swimming related courses. If you’re looking for the best swimming teaching, coaching, and pool plant training, you’re in the right place. We’re the leading provider of aquatics courses, and we’re here to support your career progression. |
| Institute of Swimming Safeguarding Courses | Safeguarding – This course is a requirement for anyone working with children both in a swimming teaching and coaching environment. Completing this course will support club SwimMark submissions and is an integral part of Swim England’s Stronger Affiliation process. This workshop will raise your awareness of signs of abuse, and give you the tools and confidence you need to deal with any issues sensitively, appropriately and effectively should the need ever arise. |
| Institute of Swimming Safeguarding Refresher Course | There are three versions of the Swim England Safeguarding Refresher courses. You only need to book and complete one of these. You can choose from: Safeguarding Refresher with Mental Health and Self-Harm Module or Safeguarding Refresher with Mobile Devices in a Sport Setting Module or Safeguarding Refresher with Creating a Safe and Proactive Culture Module |
Basic Courses
| Basic Courses For anyone wanting to teach swimming | Descriptions | |
| Swim England Child Safeguarding Basic Awareness | This free online resource has been created with Swim England to give everyone involved in clubs a basic overview of child safeguarding. | Free |
| School Swimming and Water Safety Overview | This free interactive online resource gives an introduction to School Swimming and Water Safety, including guidance on training, standards and a summary of the core aquatic and safe self-rescue skills. | Free |
| Teaching School Swimming and Water Safety | Equips Level 2 swimming teachers with the in-depth knowledge needed to deliver school swimming lessons that meet national curriculum requirements. | £25 |
| Lesson Planning | This course is relevant to any Level 2 Swimming Teachers who want to refresh their knowledge on lesson planning. It is free for Institute of Swimming Members as part of their Online Learning Hub. | Free |
| Mobile Devices in Swimming Lessons | This free interactive online resource provides swimming teachers with guidance on how to use mobile devices safely and effectively. | Free |
Timing, Judging & Refereeing
| Timing, Judging & Refereeing | Descriptions | |
| A Beginner’s Guide to Refereeing Swimming | This free interactive online resource provides support and guidance for officials refereeing small or locally-run competitions. | Free |
| Swimming Technical Officials – Timekeeping | Timekeeping Course. This course is for swimming club members and volunteers who want to help their club by becoming a timekeeper. The course covers what being a timekeeper entails. To become a timekeeper you need to be at least 14 years of age and a member of the Institute of Swimming. | |
| Swimming Technical Officials – Judge 1 Theory for qualified Time Keepers | Judge 1 Theory Course (for those that have completed the timekeepers course) This online learning is the first step to achieving Judge 1 status for swimming. It is accessible to anyone who wants to understand the World Aquatics rules relating to swimming and the process of being a Judge Swimming Official. | |
| Contemporary Issues | This free online resource is aimed at technical officials from across swimming, water polo, synchronised swimming, diving and open water. | Free |
Teaching the Disability or Impaired
| Teaching the Disability or Impaired | Descriptions | |
| Introduction to Disability Swimming | This free online resource will give you an introduction to disability swimming. It covers best practice and how to support the inclusion of disabled people in swimming lessons and clubs. | Free |
| Deaf and Visually Impaired Friendly Swimming | This e-learning covers two modules: Deaf Friendly Swimming and Visually Impaired Friendly Swimming. It will help ensure that deaf, hard of hearing and visually impaired young people are fully supported in accessing swimming lessons and training. | £5 |
| Foundations of Inclusivity | This e-learning will give you an introduction to equality, diversity and inclusion, covering the approach to inclusion, use of appropriate language and the importance of adaption. | £15 |
Teaching Swimming
| Teaching Swimming (Level 1, 2 & 3) | Descriptions |
| Institute of Swimming Teaching Assistant (Level 1) | Teaching Assistant (Level 1) – The first course you need to complete on your journey to becoming a Swimming Teacher and it can be an incredibly rewarding career, teaching an essential life skill to others. |
| Institute of Swimming Teaching Swimming (Level 2) | Teaching Swimming (Level 2) – We can help you start your journey as a swimming teacher, and then support you every step of the way as you progress to the level you want. |
| Institute of Swimming Coaching Assistant (Level 1) | Coaching Courses (Level 1) – – As a coach, you inspire and deliver success at every level. Coach training from the Institute of Swimming helps you make aquatic sports more enjoyable for more people. |
| Institute of Swimming Coaching Swimming (Level 2) | Coaching Courses (Level ) – We find that for most the gaining of a qualification is only the start of their swimming journey. The best teachers and coaches are always looking to add to their knowledge and develop their skills. |
| Institute of Swimming Senior Coaching Swimming (Level 3) | Senior Coach programme – We will equip you with the knowledge and skills to be able to create and deliver holistic, individualised development programmes which optimise the potential of aspiring athletes, at both youth and senior levels. Great coaches shape and enrich the lives of those participating in our aquatic sports. |
| Complete Guide to your course certificates | A complete guide to your course certificate and awarding organisation Awarding bodies design and develop qualifications and awards which are then delivered by approved training centres, like the Institute of Swimming. Following the course assessment and quality assurance process, the Awarding Bodies are then the ones who certify your qualification or course. |
Other Aquatics Career Sites
| Other Aquatics Career Sites | Descriptions |
| Swimming Teachers’ Association | Becoming a swimming teacher is a fantastic career path for those who are looking for a rewarding, active and challenging role. With flexible teaching hours to fit around your lifestyle, you’ll enjoy the satisfaction of a work-life balance. |
| STA Jobs in Leisure | STA have a dedicated website showing all the available job in the leisure industry. The jobs are anything from cleaning to management. They also have teaching courses that you can find here |
| Careers in Aquatics | Home of the Best Swimming Jobs – Find your next great career opportunity in swimming. Search for your ideal job today. Careers advice, Volunteer places and jobs available in aquatics. |
| UK Coaching Safeguarding | UK Coaching have safeguarding and protections courses, these apply to anyone that coach’s any sport. They have a selection of training options, e-learning, online classrooms, face-to-face, webinars and workshops. |
| UK Coaching Courses | All course related to coaching of all sports. Relevant to coaches in all environments, our expertly designed courses will help you develop your coaching skills and support you to achieve your potential. |
| Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) | RLSS UK Qualifications and Awards. On this page, you will find all the Qualifications and Awards provided by the RLSS UK. There are loads of courses to suit everyone and is a great start to any career. Lifeguards, First-Aid, Trainer Emergency Response or Pool Management. |
| Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) | National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) The Royal Life Saving Society’s NPLQ is the most awarded lifeguard qualification in the UK and Ireland and is also internationally recognised. |
| Royal Life Saving Society UK ILQ | International Lifeguard Qualification – If you are a current holder of a RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) or National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) you are eligible to apply for an ILS International Certificate |
Swimming regulators / bodies
| Site Links | Descriptions |
| Sports England | The organisation that looks after water sports in England. |
| Swimming.org | The home of swimming, diving, artistic swimming and water polo |
| Swim England | Swim England is the only recognised national governing body for swimming in England. |
| Institute of Swimming | If you’re looking for the best swimming teaching, coaching, and pool plant training, you’re in the right place. We’re the leading provider of aquatics courses, and we’re here to support your career progression. |
| British Swimming | British Swimming is the national governing body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain. It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. |
| World of Aquatics | Previously known as FINA, but now rebranded and updated. They are the world governing body for all water sports. |
| National Arena Swimming League | This is the home of The National Arena Swimming League to present you with rules, stories, details and results… anything for the premier swimming league competition in England and Wales. |
| Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) | RLSS UK has a proud history of helping to save a massive number of lives that would otherwise be lost to drowning. Our mission is to be the leader in lifesaving and lifeguarding in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Sharing, our expertise and knowledge with as many people as possible, giving everyone the potential to save lives and enjoy water, safely. |
| Swimming Teachers’ Association | The Swimming Teachers’ Association is an international award-winning charity working towards the objective of preserving human life by the teaching of swimming, lifesaving and survival techniques. |
